updated 03:45 pm EDT, Tue April 14, 2009

MS Zune Phone Ad Leak

Microsoft is taking bids for an ad campaign that would center around Zune-influenced phones within the next several months, sources speaking to AdWeek say. Ad agencies Crispin Porter + Bogusky, JWT and McCann Erickson are all reportedly fighting for promotion rights for "Pink," which is referred to only as a "mobile application" in the rumor but is believed to be a codename for reference Zune phones that should include the music services as well as certain design guidelines.

The company with the winning bid would be picked in May and would go on to produce ads and other material for an unspecified time.

A competition for "Pink" ads points to Microsoft launching a major campaign for music oriented devices as early as the second half of 2009 and the company taking action on its renewed interest in Zune, which the company has repeatedly said will spread to other devices beyond just music players. Accompanying or even tying into "Pink" should be more advanced devices like Zune HD, which should be Microsoft's first touchscreen Zune player and will likely share some services or features with future Windows Mobile devices. [image viaEngadget]

Bill Gates talking to Jerry Seinfeld on the Zune phone? A bunch of people no one would want to be like saying "I use a Zune Phone"? People with no sense of design are also incapable of choosing effective advertising. (They are both visual - get it?)

Ever wonder why no agency does more than 1 campaign for MS? The client won;t let them do their thing....